Navan youngster recounts Volunteer’s death in Cork ambush in award winning essay

Conor Carley, a student in St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, Navan, was one of the overall winners in the Decade of Centenaries All Island History Competition for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. The competition was run by the Department of Education and University College Cork School of History. It was run to complement the history curriculum and also to support and promote the study of history by students. Conor’s research came under the theme of 'Revolution and Conflict in Ireland in the 1912-1923 timeframe'.

Completed earlier this year when he was then in fourth class, Conor decided to research a family link to the War of Independence, on his mother Emer’s side of his family. The Comhairle na nÓg (student council) had organised the competition in the school with winning entries going forward to the national competition.

James O’Donoghue, an uncle of Conor's grandmother, fought and died in the war, in Bandon, Co Cork. Conor’s grandmother Eibhlín, recently deceased, was an O’Donoghue. James was her uncle.

James, or Jimmy as he was more popularly called, was killed by the Essex Regiment of the British Army at Coolfadda, on the Bandon to Dunmanway Road, on 2nd December, 1920. A Lieutenant in the Third Brigade of the much feared west Cork IRA, O’Donoghue was on his way to provide security for a top secret meeting involving the legendary IRA figure, Tom Barry. Barry, as it so happened, fell ill on the day in question and was indisposed. When O’Donoghue and his fellow volunteers arrived at the location of the supposed rendezvous all three were ambushed and ruthlessly gunned down. O’Donoghue was just 18 at the time while his comrades Joseph Begley and John Galvin were 24 and 18 respectively.

Conor was very fortunate that his great grandfather, Liam O’Donnchadha, had kept detailed notes on the ambush. From these notes we find out such details as what the trio did prior to their ensnarement. O’Donoghue “met up with Volunteers Galvin and Begley and all three went to Confession for the first Friday. They left their revolvers in Jerome McCarthy’s timber workshop at the rear of 77th Main street. Afterwards, Joe Begley bought two shillings’ worth of sweets from his girlfriend, who worked in a sweetshop on Bridge Street.” It’s details such as these that vividly bring this tragic story to life.

Another touching anecdote informs us that after her son’s death, Jimmy’s mother, Eily, had a pen added to one of the coins found in her son’s pocket at the time of his death. She then wore this coin as a brooch for the rest of her life. Furthermore, we learn that the clothes worn by Jimmy, on the day of his death, were buried under a rock at the then family home on Oliver Plunkett Street, in Bandon. It’s this blend of historical fact together with the many personal insights into his cousin’s final hours that make this research piece so fascinating to read.

Conor attended the UCC presentation with his parents Ronan and Emer (both of whom are teachers in St Oliver’s) and extended members of his family.

As well as a plaque and certificate for his prize-winning efforts, Conor’s school were also the recipients of a €200 book voucher which will be put to good use in the recently revamped school library. For those who would like to find out more about Conor’s intriguing research on The Coolfadda Ambush they will be able to do so on the website scoilnet.ie, where the work of all six national winners will be displayed.